I would appreciate hearing your experience and opinion regarding the older Ruger M77 tang safety model chambered in .458 Win Mag (or other chamberings).

Happy New Year!

I don't own one myself but I borrowed one last year when my rifles didn't make it to Bulawayo with me. Used it on my first elephant and it worked just fine. Interesting rifle as it belongs to an old time PH (one that is at least as old as me) that used it on culling and so the story goes on several terrorists during the bush war.

465H&H

I bought one new for myself as a college graduation present-- to me! It was 1981. Still have the rifle, have used it for north american game. It shoots well and handles better that the winchester, remington or weatherby big bores I own. I much prefer the tang style safety of the 77 v.s. any other on the market. My first choice for hunting DG.

It is a push feed though. I had one and it wanted to jam if cycled fast

I had a 458 years ago and shot about a dozen deer and hogs with it I never had any problems with mine. Last trip to Africa a hunter in camp used one to great affect on an elephant and a buffalo. I do know a ph who used one pretty extensively and he had a problem with solids battering the front of the magazine and bending it so that he had problems with feeding. But that was with pretty hi volume shooting for a 458. All in all I think the old m77 with tang safety are wonderful rifles.

fun rifle, a friend has one he shoots ALOT, and seats his bullets out to just before the front of the mag.

myself, i don't like the tang safety in a big bore, but that's a question of choice.

jeffe

els: I have seen a problem with the magazine getting battered but it was not from the solids in the magazine. The angled guard screw would not stay tight under recoil and the small magazine locator tab on the underside of the action would beat the magazine back as the action became loose in the stock. It was resolved with a bit of Loc-tite on the screw and no further problems arose. On that particular rifle it would happen within 5 rounds fired and basically stopped all cartridge feeding from the magazine until the rifle was torn down and the magazine straightened back out. Good thing the owner was doing some testing and practice before he left for Africa.

I only own one in a 300WM so hardly a big bore. Ed Brown put it in a Macmillen synthetic stock. ( I have the original NIB) it has been bedded and has a KDF break on it. The original barrel has also been replaced once although it is about time to do so again. All this work was done when I bought the rifle about 10 years ago by a fellow I knew through OGCA. Anyway he used it for one bear hunt and then was done with it. I have used it in Alaska for caribou and bear, RSA for plains game, and just about everything except Brownies in Canada and the US. It has been to South America, and the South Pacific. I have shot it in just about every imaginable condition. It has been used for major culling as well and has never failed me. It is also the rifle I shoot the best. I imagine that is just a function of time and practice over the years. I am very pleased with the gun and find it very accurate. I like the tang safety although I know many do not care for them. It is very ergonnomical for me. I would love the same setup in a larger bore rifle. Since I already own a couple big bores in 458 I cant justify another one so havent bothered to look for one. The only down side is it is a push feed rifle so not my idea of the best choice for a DGR. I would still rather have a Mauser. I think if the price is right though this gun is a solid choice.

I've had one for a few years now and it shoots everything from cast to blistering thumping(for a 458 WinMag) loads just fine. The cast loads do under 3" and better at 100 yds and the 450 gr NF's go way under an inch everytime. The rifle is very comfortable to shoot from the bench(100-200 rds when testing). It's FUGLY compared to my RSM's and Whitworths but it just handles everything beautifully.

Very good comments. Thank You.

Buliwyf